That is why I read this article with great interest. It seems that manufacturing is trying to make a comeback. It is a specialized form of manufacturing, not the large scale "make giant things" manufacturing of the past. Machines are becoming increasingly complex, and require a more trained and complex workforce to operate them. This seems perfectly suited for the United States, which should be able to blend its manufacturing heritage with the human capital needed for complex industrial production.
And yet, it appears that the outsourcing of American manufacturing has led to a dearth of people skilled in factory jobs. Trade schools and technical skills are a thing of the past; just think of Baltimore County. Once, Western TECH and Eastern TECH were trade skills where students learned what we would call "votech" jobs. Now, they are magnet skills which cater to a college bound clientele.
Read the article and consider the questions below:
- Do you see manufacturing as a "job for tomorrow" in the United States? Or will factory jobs remain a niche in the United States, with the bulk of manufacturing occurring overseas?
- As a student, what do you think of the decline of vocational technology in schools? Do you think some students would be better served learning heating and air conditioning repair or masonry in high school? Or is the "everyone goes to college" model (promulgated by your very county) a better approach for an increasingly complex economy?
- Should the United States even bother competing for manufacturing if other countries can do it for a much lower cost? Consider China for example. (FYI: video has two parts where naughty words are bleeped out).
The first blog post will be due on Saturday, February 25th at midnight. The second blog post will be due Sunday, March 4th at midnight.
23 comments:
I think there will not be many manufacturing jobs in the U.S. because it is so much cheaper to produce things overseas and more things are produced that way. I think the decline of people attending vocational schools is caused by that almost being looked down on now because it seems everyone wants the biggest jobs but there are only so many of them and society still really needs people that know a trade. I think a lot of students would be better off at a vocational school than going to college. One model for one student is not necessarily the best model for all students but it seems that that is the mindset now. No the U.S. should not compete to lower costs that low because the money costs are low but the citizens are paying a very high price and not being payed at a high price either.
I think it will take a while to get manufacturing back in America, because while some companies might bring back their manufacturing to America their competition once. Since some goods can be considered substitutes and in the poor economy now many people are saving alot of their paycheck and spending very few dollars, thus creating the demand for cheaper products.
I think the decline of vocational schools is absolutely ridiculous we are only fueling the fire with these policies and creating less skilled people in manufacturing jobs we need. I think some people would be better off going to vocational or technical schools. This idea that everyone should go to a four year college to obtain a major is crazy. We are creating less jobs by this because the supply of moderately skilled manufacturer is low.
We certainly should bother with competing with other countries such as China. The more we manufacture on our soil the higher our GDP will go. Also as mentioned in class the marginal propensity will increase and help us. If we have more money flowing in our economy that means a greater chance of it trickling down to more people and businesses.
I do not see manufacturing as the future of jobs because the number of machinists needed is relatively small. In a given factory there may only be a few, so I do not foresee significant growth in this field because it is a very specific trade.
I do not believe that every student should go to college. Although the world is becoming more technologically-driven, there will always be a demand to have buildings constructed, cars repaired, and air conditioners installed. It will be more beneficial for students who are not intellectually inclined (but still smart) to enroll in trade schools. They will be less tortured and will also make a very respectable living.
The United States should still compete for manufacturing, if not to create American jobs then at least to keep as many people out of the factories in China as possible. However, it is highly likely that we will fail and manufacturing will be completely outsourced because it reduces prices, but that's no reason not to try.
It’s really not much of a surprise to me that there is such a shortage of factory workers in the U.S. Within recent years there has been a firm push to get students into four year colleges, graduate programs, and then positions ranging from English teaching aides to CFO’s. ITT Tech and U Phoenix can promote their technician programs all they want, but people are still going to point and laugh at those commercials. There is a serious undervaluing of such necessary positions that essentially requires us to recruit foreigners. Because of this, manufacturing will continue overseas- in fact, it will probably grow UNLESS we do something about it.
As a young woman with little-to-no interest in technology that exceeds Twitter, I certainly never considered any sort of technological vocation. Added to my disinterest are my and my parent’s desires for me to take the four year college path. And, like I already said, it isn’t widely encouraged (at least in the North East) to attend some school like ITT Tech. Since my junior year, and since watching some of my fellow classmates struggle through the college prep process, I have been advocating for an increase in vocational/ magnet high schools; college isn’t for everyone. And the no-child left behind crap dragged so many of these kids through unnecessary instruction that could have otherwise been very productive time. I’m actually more in favor of the general instruction for freshman and sophomores, but I fervently believe that afterwards students need the option to take a path not strictly dictated by Mrs. Hamill/ Mrs. Vogel- not that they aren’t totally helpful (because they are). But they need to wake up and realize that many kids, even ones in AP classes, have other sets of skills that could lend themselves to various areas of study and that some of these studies aren’t efficiently absorbed at Stanford. I mean hey, my grandfather was a carpenter and going to college would have set him back tens of thousands. Not everyone NEEDS to make six figure salaries, but our economy NEEDS a diverse workforce.
So yea, the U.S. should step up the manufacturing competition. It really doesn’t matter that Chinese factories can produce at a much lower cost, if we lose our title of hegemon to them; though we don’t have to produce everything in the U.S. (that would be silly/unrealistic). It would be a very involved process. Before we increase production within our borders, we need the workers to produce. And we aren’t going to get those workers if we don’t make available- and encourage- the necessary education in secondary schools. Forget increasing GDP, we need to decrease unemployment AND the number of people who just stopped searching. More pertinent than the creation of jobs is the creation of potential for non-college bound students, who will strengthen our country as they find their niches.
Well, to become a machinist you have to go through intense technical training. I believe that jobs will stay over seas. Like the article says the job is not appealing and with globalization, it has caused these jobs to move over seas. It is 20% less expensive to do it over seas so why not ? If we do begin to train students in high school to do these jobs and can really help to bring them back as long as businesses are willing to pay a higher price. As stated in the article, businesses are willing to pay the price and now it is our job to provide the work
Manufacturing has potential. People clearly want to work in these factories; they just do not have the skills required. If people were aware of the skills and the benefits, more people would prepare for this type of career. It would benefit the United States to have more manufacturing within our borders. It would boost GDP. Net exports and consumer spending would increase.
No matter what school a student goes to, there will be material learned that the student will not use in the future. Colleges do teach subjects covered in high school. It helps having prior knowledge so that students can succeed in college. Vocational technology may prepare students for more realistic work especially at their age. They would probably make better pay than minimum wage since the skill level is more elevated, giving them more money to spend towards college.
With better technology, prices lower. People need jobs and this would be a practical and beneficial field to broaden. Even if costs are greater, workers will spend money and boost the economy. Lower costs are not worth it if people, like those in China, are suffering for providing imported products. They should be welcome to come to America. Surely they are skilled and businesses are in need of manufacturers.
I believe our society and culture has made recieving a higher education a necessity. In order to be sucessful and provide a decent living, a four year college degree has become a box that needs to be checked.
Since no nation can produce all its goods more efficiently, even if it has the absolute advantage, we will continue to outsource manufacturing.
I think the decline in vocational schools is representing the shift in the American economy. Uneducated labor is quickly becoming a skill set that is not needed within the boarders of the U.S.
I believe a realistic outlook must be made for each student as to whether or not a college degree is within their grasp. If they understand the limitations that will be placed upon them if they don't recieve one, and they choose to persue and education in technical skills, then I believe it is best for them and we should provide them the oppertunity to do so.
America can't compete with countries like China for manufacturing jobs because the U.S. has a huge emphesis on college education, and labor laws will not allow for the country to return the industrial power that the country once had. China is still able to use its people like animals; therefor America can't compete with them.
I think if the United States could highly benefit from using manufacturing as the "jobs of tomorrow." People complain about outsourcing jobs and giving them to other countries. If we really want them back, then we need to make sure we have the correctly trained people to work them. If we had the right workforce and were able to find a sustainable sector of the economy for manufacturing, this could help to bring many people back into the workforce. I do think that this requires that high schools bring back vocational tech programs. I don't believe that every student is cut out to go to college, some people are happier doing other things. Clearly there is a shortage in machinists and by bringing back these programs, kids who might not think college is for them can have other options for their career path. Clearly this is a respectable field with a salary of about $60,000 a year with the possibility of making around $100,000 a year by logging overtime hours. Schools need to stop focusing so much on what they "think" students should be doing. Not everyone is cut out for AP classes, maybe they would be better served learning skills that would let them get a job as an AC tech or something else in the tech field, without feeling pressure to perform in something that may not be their strong suit. There is a reason that we have a wide range of jobs in our economy, not everyone is good at the same things. Why should we think this about students? Also, clearly there are places where it is cheaper to make things than in the US. But if there are jobs being created in our country RIGHT NOW as the CNN article is stating, then we should be working to fill those jobs with skilled workers from the US to encourage more and more of this growth.
I remember this issue being presented in Obama's state of the union address. Hopefully bringing manufacturing jobs back to America will lower the unemployment rate. Even though there are plenty of faults with the unemployment statistic such as the way the data is gathered and people dropping out of the work force, structural unemployment truly is a damaging force in America.
Not only has the American economy changed fundamentally, but so has our own thought. Today, people look down on factory jobs and insist on going to college to make a sustainable income. THis has caused a huge shift in the American economy since domestic manufacturing boom in World War II. Today, manufacturing jobs go directly to foreign countries because it is much cheaper. I think the United Sate has no chance in competing with China for factory jobs simply because of politics and culture. China's communist government imprisons workers up to 12 years for trying to form a union. Unionization in the Progressive Era, though obviously beneficial to us, has contributed to the decline of American manufacturing due to high costs. If I ran a business, China would be the obvious location to build my factory because i would not have to pay high wages and the only medicare i would pay is for plastic dummies so my workers could release their repressed rage. Also, Chinese workers have a large marginal propensity to save than consume, unlike american workers. This a result of their culture because they choose to save money for better life while we spend it up to have a good time. However, Obama has a plan to provide incentives like tax breaks,etc. to hopefully promote domestic industry. Hopefully, it works and American manufacturing makes a comeback.
Since our country's unemployment rate is so high, I would think that some of those looking for jobs would eventually migrate to the open factory jobs. However, the problem lies in the fact that these jobs require specialized skills that not many people are learning. I think that many people find factory work undesirable, and as time goes on people are being pushed towards jobs that are regarded as "better." Although factory jobs pay well, as described in the article, many people think that in order to do well they have to get a job that requires a college education, not technical training. This idea is definitely pushed in high schools like ours. However, I don't think that this is the only path to success as we are told. There are job openings in these factories that should be taken advantage of. As long as there is a market for the products that are being produced in these factories, they should continue to produce goods and employ American workers. The idea that the factory owners would hire new workers and train them for their positions seems to be necessary, as a decreasing number of people have vocational training.
I can't see manufacturing ever truly making a comeback in the United States. As long as the work can be done for less in other countries, it will be. There will always be niche companies that cater to those who demand "American made" products, but for the most part, consumers are much more concerned with price than where a good was manufactured
High school should always be primarily focused on providing a base level of education in various academic fields just so we don't end up with an ignorant population, but I do think it would be nice for more schools to at least offer more vocational technology classes. It's ridiculous to me how terrible Catonsville High's tech-ed classes are, considering many of its students will end up going to trade schools. Besides career preparation, those types of classes are something everyone should at least be exposed to, if only just to understand how to fix things.
The United States shouldn't bother competing for manufacturing. Clearly China has the advantage when it comes to keeping labor costs low, and unless we decide to drastically alter our country all the way down to the Bill of Rights, China will keep that advantage.
I believe that manufacturing could very well see a revival in America's future; however, I believe that whether manufacturing sees rebirth in American industry, or whether it remains a select niche will depend on the emphasis of vocational and technical education in America's secondary schools. I believe that the decline of vocational and technical schools in America is a result of the increased emphasis on college education and the development of the service sector in the American economy. I believe that college is not the right path for some students. Public school systems should strike the right balance between encouraging students to be high-achievers, and encouraging them to do what interests them (like HVAC, etc). Manufacturers are looking to higher machinists, that means that the best thing for the U.S. economy right now is to encourage more people to become machinists. America should keep a foot in the manufacturing sector for several reasons. First, because the world needs a model of manufacturing consistent with human rights (obviously China’s manufacturing sector neglects human rights), and second, because China and India will eventually develop themselves, and the world will still need manufacturers.
I believe that manufacturing could very well see a revival in America's future; however, I believe that whether manufacturing sees rebirth in American industry, or whether it remains a select niche will depend on the emphasis of vocational and technical education in America's secondary schools. I believe that the decline of vocational and technical schools in America is a result of the increased emphasis on college education and the development of the service sector in the American economy. I believe that college is not the right path for some students. Public school systems should strike the right balance between encouraging students to be high-achievers, and encouraging them to do what interests them (like HVAC, etc). Manufacturers are looking to higher machinists, that means that the best thing for the U.S. economy right now is to encourage more people to become machinists. America should keep a foot in the manufacturing sector for several reasons. First, because the world needs a model of manufacturing consistent with human rights (obviously China’s manufacturing sector neglects human rights), and second, because China and India will eventually develop themselves, and the world will still need manufacturers.
There has been a lot of talk about bringing jobs back to America but personally I believe it is just talk. Why would a company bring jobs back to America if they can pay workers in other countries much less then in America. If jobs are to come back to the United States there needs to be some sort of incentive that brings them back but until then most of the jobs will stay in foreign countries. The reason vocational technologies are not being taught in school is because of the idea that everyone now a days has to go to college. Every employer asks for some sort a attraction point and that is college for many people and since there is college for everything and that is why so much of the vocational education has been lost. Honestly the United states should not even bother competing for manufacturing because it will always be more expensive to make products in the US than in other countries.
I think that manufacturing will continue to be done overseas, simply because of the fact that labor is cheaper over there. Workers in other countries can be payed a fraction of what they would be payed in the US, and it is more profitable for companies to pay less wages, along with the fact that Americans don't want to do the dirty work to make money.
As a student, I think that the "everyone goes to college" should be the way things are. As society becomes more complex, the uneducated will become lost in society. They will not be able to keep up with the ever growing technological advances.
As much as I think that manufacturing should be done in America, I don't think that its feasible. As Rick Perry points out, as long as the policies remain the same, companies will continue to outsource to make more money.
I do not see manufacturing as the job of tomorrow because there is a need for manufactering but this article only said there were a few jobs availbe. Factory jobs may stay a niche in the United States but that all depends if our government wants to. I think it is a shame that there is a decline in vocational technology in schools because I feel everyone should be introduced into the topic. I feel a lot of students would benefit from learning heating and air conditioning or masonry in high school because I have a lot of friends who feel like that will fit them better. The "everyone goes to college" approach is a great idea but trade school should be added into that statement. The United States should compete in manufactoring because I believe we should keep the manufactoring in the country because that will create jobs for United States citizens and keep the money in the country.
At our current rate, we are not headed towards a future where manufacturing can provide stable jobs domestically. With the majority of the workers in the Baby Boom generation and a majority of businesses sending manufacturing jobs overseas, there is little opportunity for manufacturing to be a "job of tomorrow." Only a small percentage of high school graduates go on to earn a college degree which begs the question: why are we only preparing students for college and not "votech" jobs? I strongly believe we need to increase domestic manufacturing to bring more job opportunities to our unemployed people; however, this can only be done by reworking our country's secondary schools. We need to prepare my generation.
I hope that manufacturing stays or comes back to United States, but I am not sure it will happen. Whether jobs stay in the United States or goes overseas is up to corporate America. If it is cheaper to go overseas, they will go overseas. So, how do you even out these options? You could tax companies more that go overseas. Or, eventually China will become more developed, people will get more rights, and labor laws will be set. Then, wages will increase and it will be more expensive to go overseas. But, who knows how long this could take to happen. As a student, its disappointing that vocational technology in schools in declining. Mechanic and repairmen is a growing field with increasing technology, but the supply of workers is increasing. People are pushing for students to go to college, but that isn't always the best option. If you go to a trade school and learn about heating and air, you could start your own business and be just as successful as someone who went to college for 4 to 6 years. The United States should definitely focus on trying to lowering costs in the United States or raising them in other countries. That is the only way that more jobs can be brought back to America
I’m not quite sure what you mean by manufacturing being a “job for tomorrow,” except for the idea that in the future manufacturing could return to the United States as a viable segment of the market economy. However, I can’t really see this as an option unless this country is willing to make drastic changes, mostly in terms of the education system and with regard to vocational schooling. Until then, I believe that since outsourcing labour to China is [apparently 23%] cheaper than producing in the U.S., we will continue in our current system.
As a student myself, I think the pressure to attend college and not “settle” for simple manual labour jobs or factory work is detrimental to our society as a whole. There is a large portion of the population here that would benefit moreso from receiving an education at a technical school for one year after high school than from attending a two- or four-year college. Since many people will not have gained any great advantage from their time spent in college, it’s basically wasted money, time, and resources. This country needs to get off its high horse and stop brainwashing students to believe that they must attend a prestigious college in order to attain a comfortable lifestyle. As the article mentions, a machinist at a factory can make up to 100K a year; that’s about as much as a recent college grad will have accumulated in debt due to their time spent getting that topnotch learnin’. A better system would be to encourage those students who are interested to pursue higher education, and encourage the ones who aren’t to focus on their relative options, e.g. vocational schools. Like the article said, there are jobs available, there just aren’t enough savvy workers to handle them.
As for the United States’ manufacturing market compared to that of China, well... Jon Stewart did a swell job of pointing out the abhorrent qualities of the latter, if you ask me. The U.S. has strict labour laws that have come into effect over the course of our industrial history; however, China apparently does not. The funny thing is, while we champion workers’ rights at home, many of our corporations see little wrong in outsourcing overseas to places where virtually no rights are guaranteed to those employed. The priority for American businesses, and for most businesses in general, is to glean the most profit at the least cost. So, unfortunately, I believe it will be difficult for this country to shift the manufacturing market from China back to the U.S.
I feel like manufacturing could be the "job for tomorrow" if it was advertised more as a demanded work opportunity. To be honest, I did not know that manufacturing companies were in need of workers at all or that significant manufacturing was even done in the United States. As ignorant as it may sound, I was under the impression that it was basically all done outside of the United States, in places such as China. I think that we should attempt to get students back to technical studies and trade skills because everyone is not suit for going to college. Some people in our society would be better for working in a factory and that could potentially be their "calling", if you will. Yes, the United States should compete for manufacturing because not only would it offer job opportunities, but if we could spark up manufacturing in the US there is a possibility we could produce better made goods than China. If this did happen the United States would be in the same position as we once were and our economy would be boosted tremendously.
I think that the majority of manufacturing jobs will remain overseas unless some significant change occurs.
The main reason is that it is much more cost effective to do so because factories would have to pay american workers much more. I think that teaching vocational technology in schools could be helpful as an elective. Since it would be optional only the kids who see a use for it would have to take it, for whatever reason they would want to. Though many of these types of jobs are leaving the states so it could backfire for some people, as jobs are becoming more complex. Considering the conditions for workers and the wages they receive it would be almost impossible for the US to compete with China.
I don't see manufacturing as an ideally perfect occupation, but I don't see it as a horrible embarrassing job either. It is probably never going to have the same vast prominence in America again as it used to unless China simply died. Manufacturing is an okay job. It takes skill, meaning not everyone can do it. It also takes some formal education, for example that of the machinists. My BFF actually goes to Western TECH and it is probably the most disgusting waste of a magnet school I have ever had the displeasure of stepping toe in. Quite actually, just today, I asked her why her school sucked so badly and she blamed it on the students, which leads me to believe that the lack of interest in these vocational jobs is not the lack of applicants in the breeding ground, but the amount of actually willing students who have a genuine desire to learn and have a profession in their trade. Sure some kids would do better in life granted they studied one skill set and worked in any available store. However, this "college" thing is actually pretty nifty, what with the many colleges available to the modern public, and a plethora of possible majors and genres and degrees. It just may work out well for the economy, if enough students got good jobs with their degrees. I don't think we should compete for manufacturing jobs, but rather work with what job opportunities we have here in America already.
I think factory jobs will remain niche for the United States. In order for that to change, many of the big corporations would have to choose factories in the United States over foreign labor, which seems unlikely seeing the price difference. Most of the companies in the article are only looking for a few workers and this growth in manufacturing does not seem significant.
I think some students would be better off learning those skills because there is a job market for those skills out there and from the article it seems as if there is demand for workers. It seems as if most students are lead to the college path and promised a well paying job which is no longer the case.
I think at this point most companies don't look toward the United States for labor so it would be hard to change this. Most companies are paying so little for labor in foreign countries that it is almost impossible to compete with.
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